The University of Exeter's £5.5m mutifaith centre prioritises energy efficiency and carbon reduction from design to operation in support of their net zero by 2030 target.
Created to provide an inclusive space for reflection, worship, and community events for a student body made up of 14 faith groups and representing over 150 nationalities, the centre reaches Passivhaus levels of building performance ensuring end-user comfort all year round. This approach to construction involves high levels of insulation and airtightness.
To manage the complexities of Passivhaus construction, the team included a specialist Passivhaus coordinator and involved close collaboration with supply chain partners to ensure every material and system met certification standards. The building is awaiting Passivhaus Classic Certification from the The Passive House Institute (PHI), in Germany.
Sustainability was considered at every stage through the use of low-carbon materials and design choices to reduce embodied carbon. For example, the design of the foundations was enhanced to reduce the number, depth, and diameter of continuous flight auger (CFA) piles. This decision saved 21,697kg of embodied carbon, equivalent to nearly 54,000 miles driven in an average car.
Contruction used 365mm Porotherm T8 blocks, containing 30% recycled material, which provide a simple, thermally efficient wall system. These blocks, fired at lower temperatures than traditional alternatives, reduced embodied carbon while enhancing the building's insulation performance.
Operationally, the building is 100% fossil-fuel free, incorporating air source heat pumps, and on-site renewable energy generation with PV solar panels filling the roof space, to improve energy efficiency, carbon reduction and air quality.
Triple-glazed windows further enhanced insulation and acoustic performance, while air-source heat pumps and a roof filled with solar panels ensured the building is entirely fossil-fuel-free in operation, maximising renewable energy generation and long-term carbon savings.
Innovations in the clay walling system saw the team use an internal plaster to create a robust and visible airtight line, helping the building achieve an exceptional air tightness test result of 0.5 ACH - outperforming the Passivhaus requirement of 0.6 ACH.
Beyond the building itself, the project’s impact extended to the wider community. Over 100 people benefitted from outreach initiatives, including site tours and CV workshops for prison leavers. On-site mental health talks and screenings supported worker wellbeing, reinforcing a culture of care.
Despite the challenges of working on an active campus, the project was delivered on time and budget, with extensive community outreach and careful sequencing to minimise disruption to the live campus. The result is a pioneering, net-zero-ready building that celebrates diversity, promotes wellbeing, and exemplifies construction excellence.
